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FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2026

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WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

THEHOYA.COM | FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2026

Experienced Returners Spell New Hope for Haney’s Hoyas

Minos Zompanakis Special to The Hoya

The Georgetown University women’s basketball team enters the 2026-27 season poised for a year of redemption and increased exposure. With new talent joining a returning core of senior forward Brianna Byars, senior guard Khia Miller, junior guard Destiny Agubata and junior guard Amanda Ajobiewe, the Hoyas feel optimistic about what lies ahead. Nonetheless, with eight new players joining the team, the Hoyas will have to rebuild their chemistry to maximize their potential. Head Coach Darnell Haney said the talent and physical prowess of the team are key to its success this season, adding that the coaches must focus on building team unity to elevate those skills. “I think we have a great deal of skill, a great deal of size, a great deal of athleticism,” Haney told The Hoya. “I think being able to get all those pieces to gel together is our job as coaches. But I think this group has every aspect of a dominant winning program to it, and we just have to make sure that we continue to add every piece of that puzzle.” As the returning players prepare to take on expanded leadership roles on a team with eight new players, their experience could prove instrumental in shaping the program’s direction this season. As coaching staff worked to bring the group together, the returning players are also responsible for fostering an environment on par with the program’s standards while making the newcomers adjust to Georgetown’s culture and prepare to contribute. Byars said she was confident in the returning group’s ability to establish itself as a leadership core and set the tone for a mostly new roster. “This was a great group to return and set the standard and continue with the expectations that Coach Haney and his staff have set for this program,” Byars told The Hoya. “I think that’s a big piece in bridging the gap between the newcomers and the coaches that are here. So I would say that and keep a competitive spirit within the gym.” Ajobiewe emphasized the team’s capabilities, saying it is necessary to foster an environment of underlying love and respect. “Just lay the foundation of respect for each other, and love for each other, and know that anything we’re saying is from a place of love and trying to make each other better and compete,” Ajobiewe told The Hoya. “You just know that we’re going to step on the floor, step into practice, and going to compete and try to make each other better.” Beyond the practice floor, Haney said team bonding is central to the Hoyas’ success, noting the variety of team-building activities organized to help strengthen relationships away from basketball. “We have what we call growth sessions or family fun days,” Haney said. “Growth sessions are times where we can get together and learn about each other. We may learn about something like financial literacy or how to communicate effectively. So those are our growth sessions, but then our last one we just did the African American Museum.” Haney said that family fun days are crucial to team building and added that some have been scheduled in the near future. “But as far as our family fun days, those are times where we get together outside of basketball and have fellowship,” Haney said. “It may be game night, karaoke night. It’s Halloween coming, so we may have a pumpkin carving.” “But it’s just something where we can get them together outside of basketball, where they can gel and become closer,” Haney added.

Miller said players have also taken the initiative to build relationships outside of the coaching staff’s organized activities. “I would say we hang out a lot,” Miller told The Hoya. “Just after practice, going to get food. Of course we have team things where we come together with the coaches as well, so we’re hanging out. Love Island was, I think, during the summer, which everybody was into. So just finding things like that. Football, a lot of us like football and watch games.” Despite a challenging slate of road games, the team will have a multitude of opportunities to test itself against some of the Big East’s top competition. Matchups against St. John’s University on Dec. 10, Villanova University on Dec. 30, University of Connecticut (UConn) on Jan. 7, Marquette University on Feb. 10 and Seton Hall University on Feb. 14 will test the Hoyas against programs that finished last season with winning records and ranked above Georgetown, which enters the season ranked eighth in the Big East preseason poll. For the returning players, navigating those environments will require more than on-court output. Miller said communication and confidence are essential to the team’s success, particularly as the Hoyas integrate newcomers and first-years who have yet to experience intense matchups. “Communicating the fact that those are tough environments to be in, and just going into practice and really emphasizing, talking loud and being able to handle the physicality,” Miller said. “I think, when you worry too much about the other team, that seems to take you out of your game. So just be ready to handle whatever is thrown at us in a game and be ready to attack whatever our goal is.” Byars echoed her teammate’s sentiment, saying reassurance will prove important to the team’s newcomers as they prepare for the challenges ahead. Byars said building confidence would help the team’s approach to these high-pressure games. “The biggest thing when you’re going into an environment, as the names that you have just listed, is to just reassure them that they’re here for a reason and that they’re here for a moment as such,” Byars said. “So, I think when you come in with that mentality and mindset, you attack it in a different way.” “The freshmen and the newcomers that we do have already have shown that they have that mentality, so I think, just in those moments, this is going to be a matter of showing up when the lights come on,” Byars added. Haney pointed to the Hoyas’ Feb. 18 matchup against UConn as a defining opportunity for both this year’s team and the program as a whole. Haney said the game, which will be Georgetown women’s basketball’s first appearance at Capital One Arena, offers the Hoyas a chance to introduce the program to a wider audience. “It’s an amazing opportunity for us to just showcase our university, showcase who we are as a program, but also showcase our young women and show the world and the recruiting landscape and everybody else who Georgetown and what Georgetown really is about,” Haney said. Ajobiewe agreed, saying the game is an important opportunity for all involved. “I feel good about it,” Ajobiewe said. “It’s a good environment for us and a good environment for the program. It’s going to be a test. It’s different playing there and in McDonough.” As the Georgetown women’s basketball team prepares for a season of new challenges, the Hoyas will look to their returning players to establish a culture of accountability and set the tone for a team seeking to make its mark in the Big East.

BIG EAST POWER RANKINGS Lily Bendavid

East team, Vice averaged 13.7 points per game last season alongside a division-leading 8.9 rebounds. With the loss of forward Skylar Forbes, 1. University of Connecticut (UConn) Huskies Marquette’s four new transfers will have to In Head Coach Geno Auriemma’s 42nd season come through to lift the Golden Eagles with with UConn (38-1, 20-0 Big East), their conference Vice. domination is likely to continue. The Big East preseason coaches poll unanimously selected UConn 7. Providence College Friars No. 1, with the Associated Press putting them at The Providence College Friars (15-18, 7-13 Big East) No. 2. Last season, UConn was undefeated in the should be considered a swing team, but one with regular season and was upset in the final four of the a ceiling. While guard Orlagh Gormley received NCAA Tournament. Reigning national player of the a preseason all-Big East honorable mention, no year forward Sarah Strong is set to return alongside other players from Providence came close to seleca bright young core in first-year guard Jovona Popo- tion. Gormley’s solid stat line includes 8.7 points, vic and first-year center Olivia Vukosa. UConn has 4.3 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 2.5 steals per game last enough talent to replicate their recent success. season, but isn’t enough on its own. With few new additions, the Friars’ season is mostly up in the air. 2. Villanova University Wildcats Villanova (25-8, 16-4 Big East) has a mighty 8. Xavier University Musketeers basketball team, but is perennially behind UCoThe Xavier University Musketeers (11-19, 4-16 nn. The Wildcats were runner-up to the Hus- Big East) face similar challenges to Providence. kies in the Big East Tournament last season, but While star guard Meri Kanerva, who averaged 11.2 earned a No. 10 seed in the NCAA tournament. points and 3.4 assists per game last season, will reVillanova’s key player is guard Jasmine Bascoe, turn, Xavier lost seven players who made up over who averaged a conference-high 18.9 points 80% of their scoring. The Musketeers are one of per game last season. Guard Alexis Eberz and the few lower-ranked teams that have a clear-cut forward Janet Oriakhi should bring a wealth of leader, but it may not be enough. Such significant experience. While they look good enough to be roster turnover after an already offensively weak competitive, their lacking supporting cast won’t season may make 2026-27 another tough season. be enough to overtake the reigning champs. 9. Georgetown University Hoyas 3. Creighton University Blue Jays Let’s consider this a rebuilding year for the Creighton (16-15, 11-9 Big East), a younger team Hoyas (14-17, 6-14 Big East). Georgetown picked that certainly has potential, is close behind Villa- up only six conference wins last year, losing 11 nova in the preseason ranking. Guards Neleigh players in the offseason, including the Hoyas’ Gessert and Ava Zediker were both named to the leading scorer: guard Laila Jewett. The Hoyas preseason all-Big East team. This young base gives did not have a single player named to the Creighton plenty to build on, but the lack of expe- preseason all-Big East team, but there is real rienced leadership complicates things for the Blue potential in junior guard Johnea Donahue, a Jays. Head Coach Jim Flanery will have to step up transfer from Bowling Green University. Donafor his players after a disappointing season and hue averaged 11.4 points per game last season, subsequent struggles in the transfer portal. was named Mid-American Conference defensive player of the year and ranked No. 2 among 4. St. John’s University Red Storm Big East transfers. While defense is important, The St. John’s University Red Storm (22-12, offense wins games. Georgetown must find 11-9 Big East) may be fourth in this ranking, but consistent scoring from somewhere if they they are legitimate contenders to be in the Big want to get anywhere in this conference. East’s top three. Guard Brooke Moore and forward Sa’Mya Wyatt, who were both named to 10. DePaul University Blue Demons the preseason all-Big East team, anchor a strong DePaul (8-24, 5-15 Big East) was picked last in returning core, alongside Head Coach Joe Tarta- the Big East preseason poll, which does not inspire mella’s substantial group of transfers. The Red confidence. Finishing 10th in the conference, their Storm has many reasons to feel positive about young and new roster lacks a major standout at the the season, but they face a tight race to the top. moment. Still, with some more experience, they could turn things around and improve from last 5. Seton Hall University Pirates season. While DePaul lost eight players, two of their The Seton Hall University Pirates (19-13, new transfers averaged over 10 points a game last 12-8 Big East) lost four of their five top scor- season. As Head Coach Jill Pizzotti’s second full seaers leaving only guard Savannah Catalon. son begins, DePaul is a true toss-up. Catalon will have to exceed expectations, along with 6-foot-4 forward Inieye Oruh and 11. Butler University Bulldogs 6-foot-5 center Kenadie Maughan. AdditionFinally, there is Butler (12-19, 6-14 Big East), a team ally, guard Ja’Kahla Craft and forward/guard that historically has been ranked at the bottom of Shailyn Pinkney are both returning this year, the conference. There is no reason to think this seagiving this team a reason to feel confident. son will be any different. Despite 11 new players, the Bulldogs don’t have one named to the preseason 6. Marquette University Golden Eagles all-Big East team or even an honorable mention. Below Seton Hall are the Marquette Univer- Although roster turnover can be beneficial, a lack of sity Golden Eagles (18-12, 12-8 Big East), who cohesion between players could be their downfall. center around forward Halle Vice. The only The Bulldogs will need a spark somewhere to bring Golden Eagle selected to the preseason all-Big this drowning team surface-bound. Hoya Staff Writer

B3 | THE BASKETBALL ISSUE

MEN’S BASKETBALL

THEHOYA.COM | FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2026

Revamped Hoyas Bring Fresh Optimism, Offensive Prowess BIG EAST POWER RANKINGS Rayden Waweru

Swartz and junior forward Jasen Green will lead the charge for the Bluejays. With a mix of returning talent and fresh faces, Creighton has the pieces to revamp their roster and may find themselves com1. University of Connecticut (UConn) Huskies UConn (34-6, 17-3 Big East) enters the season with peting in big games down the line. plenty of momentum after a dominant run through Big East play and a trip to the national champion- 7. Xavier University Musketeers Xavier (15-18, 6-14 Big East) has plenty to prove ship game. The Huskies retained key players in forward Jayden Ross, guard Braylon Mullins and after its first year under Head Coach Richard PitiBig East preseason player of the year guard Silas De- no. With All-Big East first team forward Tre Carroll mary Jr., added 7 transfers and recruited the Big East gone, Pitino will have to rebuild a roster that strugfreshman of the year forward Colben Landrew. With gled with consistency last season. Junior forward a mix of returning talent and promising newcom- Jovan Milicevic, who finished second on the team ers, the Huskies may find themselves right back in in scoring, returns as one of the Musketeers’ biggest pieces. While the Musketeers also have plenty of the national championship conversation. new talent, the question remains whether Pitino can get everyone on one page. If things click, Xavier 2. St. John’s University Red Storm If last season proved anything, it is that the Red could make a surprise push to March Madness. Storm have no plans of slowing down. St. John’s (307, 18-2 Big East) looks to continue its dominance as 8. Seton Hall University Pirates Seton Hall (21-12, 10-10 Big East) fell just short of a back-to-back Big East champions. The Red Storm are coming off an impressive season that ended in a March Madness appearance despite its second 20Sweet 16 loss. Guard Tounde Yessoufou, who with- win season under Head Coach Shaheen Holloway. drew his name from the 2026 NBA Draft to return The Pirates enter the season with a proven coach for another season, is leading the charge. As the Red and plenty of new talent to work with, making SeStorm defend their Big East crown, another heated ton Hall one of the Big East’s biggest surprises. battle with UConn is likely. 9. Georgetown University Hoyas Georgetown (16-18, 6-14 Big East) has plenty of 3. Villanova University Wildcats Villanova (24-9, 15-5 Big East) comes in with high questions to answer as Head Coach Ed Cooley looks expectations after Head Coach Kevin Willard’s first to bring the Hoyas back into contention. After anyear turned the program around, taking the Wild- other disappointing season, Georgetown lost its two cats to a No. 8 seed in March Madness. Returning leading scorers, guards KJ Lewis and Malik Mack, guard Tyler Perkins, who led the Wildcats in scoring along with six other players, leaving major gaps in last season, is expected to carry much of the load the roster. The Hoyas do return 7-foot-1 senior cenafter much of the team left in the transfer portal. ter Vince Iwuchukwu, who averaged 11.6 points and Still, Willard has plenty of talent to work with, and if 6.1 rebounds last season. Cooley also made moves the new pieces come together, Villanova might just in the transfer portal, adding Kansas senior guard Elmarko Jackson, Kentucky senior guard Jaland make noise in March once again. Lowe and College of Charleston junior center Chol Machot. The pressure is on Cooley to prove his re4. Marquette University Golden Eagles Marquette (12-20, 7-13 Big East) is looking to built roster can compete. The talent is there, but bounce back this season after a disappointing whether the Hoyas can turn it into wins remains year. Head Coach Shaka Smart has long relied on the biggest question on the Hilltop. developing and retaining his players rather than turning to the transfer portal, but last season’s 10. DePaul University Blue Demons DePaul (16-16, 8-12 Big East) looks to take anothstruggles may have finally caused a shift in his approach. With forward Royce Parham and reigning er step forward as Head Coach Chris Holtmann Big East freshman of the year Nigel James Jr., Mar- enters his third year with the Blue Demons. After quette has the core pieces to turn things around. losing several key contributors, Holtmann turned to the transfer portal to rebuild his roster. Returning guard Layden Blocker, who averaged 11.1 points and 5. Providence College Friars Providence (15-18, 7-13 Big East) enters the 1.6 steals, will also play a major role. With a stronger 2026–27 season with a fresh start under Head defense and new scoring options, DePaul has the Coach Bryan Hodgson. After a disappointing sea- pieces to make life difficult for Big East opponents, son, Providence lost leading scorer Jaylin Sellers to but is not ready for March Madness just yet. the NBA, forcing Hodgson to rebuild through the portal. The Friars brought in 10 transfers, including 11. Butler University Bulldogs Butler (16-16, 7-13 Big East) begins a new chapguard Miles Byrd and former Georgetown guard Malik Mack. With a revamped roster and new ter under Head Coach Ronald Nored, who releadership, Friars fans have plenty to look forward turns to his alma mater after several years coachto as Providence could find itself back in the NCAA ing in the NBA. The Bulldogs hit the transfer portal, adding forward Christian Moore from The Tournament for the first time since 2023. Citadel, guard Eduardo Klafke from Ole Miss and forward Samis Calderon from Kansas. Four-star 6. Creighton University Bluejays Creighton (16-18, 9-11 Big East) is in position to first-year forward Herly Brutus also brings promturn things around under new Head Coach Alan ising young talent to the roster. With so many Huss, who took over after serving as the program’s new faces, Nored will have his work cut out for associate head coach. Despite the coaching change, him. The Bulldogs may face some growing pains the Bluejays have plenty of talent to work with. Re- this season, but a fresh coaching staff and rebuilt turning double-digit scorers junior guard Austin roster could lay the foundation for Butler’s future. Hoya Staff Writer

Finn Balon

portunity to help my team,” Mulready told The Hoya. “There’s going to be a lot of that.” In addition, Benson, Parker and Machot will As Head Coach Ed Cooley nears his fourth sea- look to add to the physical frontcourt presence of son with the Hoyas, the Georgetown University perhaps Georgetown’s most important returner, men’s basketball team is approaching their up- senior center Vincent Iwuchukwu. Averaging 11.8 coming schedule with a different ethos than in points per game last season on an efficient 54.9% years past. As Cooley wants this year’s Hoyas to play shooting and 6.1 rebounds a game, Iwuchukwu fast, high-event basketball with a transfer portal asserted his presence consistently on the glass class that brings various new scoring options to the when he was healthy, although he did miss 10 Hilltop, the traditional Georgetown way of playing games following a heart procedure. through big men may be on sabbatical. Benson, who played for DePaul last season, had Last year, the Hoyas finished with an over- similar production to Iwuchukwu, averaging 11.7 all record of 16-18, going 6-14 in Big East play. points per game on 63.6% shooting while averaging Despite moderate success at the Big East Tour- 7.6 rebounds a game. The combination of these two nament, beating No. 7 seed DePaul University players will look to establish an offensive presence and upsetting No. 3 seed Villanova University, in the paint while guards like Miller and Lowe Georgetown ultimately fell to No. 2 seed Univer- threaten to score from outside of the paint as well. sity of Connecticut to end their season. With recent eligibility debates regarding Benson Cooley, who holds a 16-44 Big East record and and Iwuchukwu, the DePaul transfer finds himself has never reached the NCAA Tournament during ineligible to play as of now. However, Iwuchukwu his time with Georgetown, will look to revamp the was granted eligibility and will start out the season Hoyas’ approach this year with a promising offen- for the Hoyas as a core piece of their roster. sive group and strong team culture. Additionally, returning junior forward Caleb WilDespite the departure of key players from liams will help the Hoyas orchestrate a well-roundlast season, including senior guards KJ Lewis ed offensive approach, seeing increased playing and Malik Mack — who led the Hoyas in scor- time and a jump in his numbers last season. Averaging with 14.9 and 13.3 points per game, respec- ing 30 minutes a game and starting in all 34 games, tively — as well as junior center Julius Halai- Williams averaged 8.8 points per game while colfonua, Georgetown has a diverse transfer class lecting an average of 5.1 rebounds per game. that has already meshed well together. The rest of the incoming class is rounded The newcomers include junior guard Vyc- out by first-year forward Pedro Pastre, first-year torius Miller, sophomore forward Josiah guard Gabriel Landeira, first-year forward Justin Parker, senior guard Elmarko Jackson, ju- Caldwell and first-year guard Athan Olivier IV. nior center Chol Machot, graduate center NJ Cooley is looking forward to how the team Benson and senior guard Jaland Lowe. will mesh as the season progresses, saying Lowe, who arrives from the University of Ken- the team’s chemistry is the best he has seen tucky, averaged 8 points per game last season, but despite the many transfer players. dealt with a shoulder injury all year, undergoing “I would say this is the first team that I feel we’ve season-ending surgery after nine games. Lowe will coached that is more connected,” Cooley said. command heavy minutes and orchestrate GeorgeWhile constructing the roster, Cooley made town’s offense, exemplified in his strong exhibition sure to recruit experienced players capable of performances against George Washington Univer- jumpstarting the Hoyas’ offense, which strugsity Oct. 16, with 19 points, and Wake Forest Univer- gled overall last season. Georgetown put up a sity Oct. 4, where he had 10 assists. poor 73.6 points per game as a team, ranking Lowe said he has enjoyed being a part of this 240th in the country overall — which Cooley year’s team as the Hoyas head into the season. said influenced decisionmaking. “We have so much fun every single day with We looked for some age, know-how and everybody,” Lowe said at Big East Media Day. “We shooting,” Cooley said. “Those were the three eshang out so much on and off the court that you sential things that were the marching order to know, it’s really a family and like a brotherhood.” try to build this roster.” Miller will also look to command playing time, The average age of this year’s Georgetown team is evidenced by his 16 points in the Wake Forest ex- 20.31 years old, which is about half a year older than hibition, where he shot 5-for-6 from beyond the last year’s team at 19.81 years old. The Hoyas will arc. Last year, Miller was an important piece of hope to capitalize on this increased experience and Oklahoma State University’s offense, starting 26 discipline as they compete throughout the season. games and averaging 10.8 points per game. Additionally, the Hoyas are taking a much Cooley also emphasized former 5-star recruit more offensive approach this season, as eviJackson’s importance to the team, saying the first- denced by the scoring pedigree of their transfer year will bring a varied set of skills to the team. class, but are still learning to defend as a unit. “Elmarko to me is a Swiss Army knife,” “I think you’ll see a fast group, a really good Cooley said at Big East Media Day. “You can shooting team,” Cooley said. “We’re working shoot, you can drive it. He’ll be one of the on our defensive fundamentals. I don’t know better defenders in the Big East.” if we’re where we need to be defensively yet, Returning junior guard Kayvaun Mulready but offensively we got a lot of firepower.” also looks to play a larger role in Georgetown’s The Hoyas looked good in their exhibioffense this year after breaking out in the second tions against Wake Forest and George Washhalf of last season. Mulready blossomed in the ington. Georgetown took both, comfortably Big East Tournament upset over Villanova last beating Wake Forest 94-77 and grinding out year, where he had 14 points on perfect shooting. a win against George Washington 76-68. At Big East Media Day, Mulready said he is opThe Hoyas begin their season Nov. 2, when timistic about how he played at the end of last they will face Loyola University Maryland at season and the way that his game is trending. home in Capital One Arena, before returning “I mean, it definitely wasn’t an out-of-no- to Capital One for an epic clash against the where experience. I was just waiting on the op- University of Maryland on Nov. 7. Deputy Sports Editor

B4 | THE BASKETBALL ISSUE

MEN’S BASKETBALL

THEHOYA.COM | FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2026

‘I’m Going to Go Dancing’: Haney Aims High Ahead of Season Ethan Herweck Senior Sports Editor

When Georgetown University women’s basketball Head Coach Tasha Butts died in October 2023, eyes turned to Darnell Haney, who had just started as the team’s associate head coach. For Hoyas fans, Haney was a wild card — nobody knew what to expect from the new interim head coach. In the season that followed, Haney led the Hoyas to a 23-12 record and a berth to the Women’s Basketball Invitation Tournament (WBIT). The team saw not only its most wins in over a decade but also its first ranked victory since 2016 and first postseason appearance since 2019. Haney officially became head coach in March 2024 after that magical season. But since then, the team has had two losing seasons and still has failed to reach March Madness since 2012. Now, entering his fourth season at the Hoyas’ helm, Haney confronts the lofty expectations he set as he tries to make a winning team. Haney said he will focus on getting the team to the NCAA tournament and improving every day. “The number one thing is, are we getting better daily?” Haney told The Hoya. “Do we get better over the course of the season? Then the next thing is, I want to make the NCAA tournament. I’m going to go dancing.” This offseason, the NCAA expanded the field of teams in the women’s March Madness tournament from 68 to 76. The new rules allow for eight more at-large bids, which teams like Georgetown often seek because conferences only produce one automatic bid, reducing teams’ opportunities coming from elite conferences. Haney said his team has what it takes to join the larger field. “We got to do our job in conference in order to do that,” Haney said. “Now there’s some great teams all over the country, but I think this is a team that can do that, and get to the NCAA tournament and represent this university like I know they can.” Last season, the Hoyas finished with a 14-17 record and an eighth place finish in the Big East. Both Big East teams that reached March Madness — Villanova University and the University of Connecticut — finished the season with at least 25 wins. Haney said players must develop themselves in all areas of life — both on and off the court — to build winning habits that create long-term success. “If we individually and collectively are winners, winning takes care of itself,” Haney said. “So we just need to be winners in every aspect of our lives, from academically to socially, and then especially on this floor. We just make sure we do winning things and have winning habits, so that we can, in turn, be the best program we can be.”

Recruiting Success in a Wild Transfer Portal Haney will start the 2026-27 season with an almost brand-new roster after returning only four players. The Hoyas’ losses to the transfer portal and graduated players include three of the team’s top-five scorers and the team’s assist leader, blocks leader and steals leader.

Haney said the Hoyas needed to replace those key pieces throughout the transfer portal season. “When the portal was open over the summer, we wanted to make sure we fit the needs that we needed with some of the people that departed,” Haney said. “We lost Brianna Scott, we lost Layla Jewett to graduation, Chetanna Nweke, we lost to graduation. So we wanted to replace some of those pieces with size, shooting, ball handling.” Haney said his goal was to bring on transfers with proven success at other schools. “We were trying to get players with experience,” Haney said. “We were trying to get players that were productive where they were. We’ve had some success. We’ve had success with people that have been productive where they were.” Haney previously targeted transfers from the four power conferences that had not gotten opportunities in college yet, but he said that tactic came with risks. “It’s almost like having a freshman because you don’t know what they’re going to bring to the table,” Haney said. “But this year in the portal and in our recruiting strategy, we wanted to make sure we got those voids filled.” Haney said he only recruits first-years and sophomores because Georgetown only allows students to transfer 60 credits from another institution, so juniors would not be able to graduate on time. “We wanted to make sure we got great people in the program that could handle Georgetown academic rigor,” Haney said. “And the other thing about the transfer portal and about us in this situation, Georgetown is the highest academic institution in the Big East, and because of that, there’s some parameters we have to make sure that we either go around or figure out.” “Some of the credits don’t transfer over because we don’t have those majors, and they’re not looked upon in credit evaluation as Georgetown-level classes, so that’s part of the struggle that we end up with when we go in recruiting,” Haney added. In addition to his recruiting in the portal, Haney brought in three freshmen — Bo Frost, Stella Lockhart and Kendall Perry — earning the 36th-ranked recruiting class in the country and second highest in the Big East. Haney also had to deal with the ever-changing landscape of college eligibility. The NCAA’s new rules this summer extended a fifth year of eligibility for student-athletes who enrolled for the first time in the 2026-27 season or came into the season with eligibility remaining. But ongoing litigation has left those rules — and players’ futures — uncertain. Haney said that unpredictability has harmed the team. “I just want the NCAA to make a decision,” Haney said. “Are we going to allow them to play? Are we not going to allow them to play? We have some teams in conference, and we were recruiting some people that had possible fifth years, but I just want a decision to be made, yea or nay. And then we can move forward from there.” Building a Team Haney’s acronym of core principles for the team is his own trademark: E.L.I.T.T.T.E., or excellence, lead with love, integrity, tight, tough, together and enthusiasm. Haney said this acronym is everything he is trying to teach to his players, both on and off the court. “It goes back to our mantra, E.L.I.T.T.T.E.,” Haney said. “So excellence: we’re early, we look the part, we’re going to make sure we communicate at a high level. And then we’re going to lead with love.

ILLUSTRATION BY EGE ALIDEDEOGLU/THE HOYA, PHOTO BY MATTHEW GASSOSO/THE HOYA

We’re going to tell people the truth, but we’re also going to be there for them in any aspect.” “Integrity: what are you doing when nobody’s watching? Do you have the integrity to get those things done? How are you responding when there’s a bad call?” Haney added. Haney said his slogan’s three Ts are about how the team fits together. “Tight means we’re sharp,” Haney said. “We’re on our P’s and Q’s. We understand what’s going on. We’re always thinking about what’s next. We’re sharp, and there’s three Ts in E.L.I.T.T.T.E. for us. The next one is tough. We got to be able to withstand things that are not favorable to us in all aspects.” “Together is the third T — so we’re tight, tough and we’re together,” Haney added. Haney said his last principle is enthusiasm because the players must be grateful for the opportunities they have at any given moment. “They’re afforded a lot. They have a lot of things that are going their way,” Haney said. “And they have to be enthusiastic about it because at any moment, knock on wood, an injury can take all of that away.” Haney said he also follows a second principle: “one band, one sound.” “One band, one sound means we all speak the same language; we all do things the Georgetown way,” Haney said. ‘Haney’s Hoyas’ That “Georgetown way” also guides Haney’s approach to the broader university community as he focuses on creating hype around a team with subpar attendance. Georgetown women’s basketball is the least-attended Big East team, with only 713 fans at home on average — even though games are on campus. Haney said he has unconventional ideas to get students in attendance at their games, including recruiting fans in Leo J. O’Donovan Dining Hall. “I don’t think the students know enough,” Haney said. “I think us going into Leo’s and me

standing on the table and letting everybody know, ‘There’s a game tonight. We need you in McDonough Arena. We need you in those seats, hype, cheering us on, screaming defense, getting on our players when they’re not doing what they’re supposed to do, but cheering us on as well when we’re doing what we are supposed to do.’ I think that’s important.” Haney said he wants the student section at the games — which he has dubbed “Haney’s Hoyas” — to rival the intensity of some opponents’ competitive environments. “We go up to some places and it’s tough to play in there; it’s a hostile environment,” Haney said. “We want Haney’s Hoyas in those seats — I want it to be just a terror for the opponent to come in here because they got to go against us, our defense, our offensive attack, but they also got to go against our sixth man, which is our fans and our student body,” Haney added. Haney said some opponents this season will have payback coming from his band of underdogs. “We owe some people, and I think our young women know that we owe some people,” Haney said. “And a lot of the young women on our team, they might have been looked over. They’re the outside dog or the underdog, and they’ve been looked over. So I’m looking forward to a couple of them. We just owe some people, really all of them.” Haney said he has faith that the players and this strategy can come together to achieve the high expectations he has set. “It takes a community, it takes recruiting, it takes us being tight, tough and together, but it also takes an expectation of winning,” Haney said. “They walk on the floor expecting to win, and not because nobody else did it. They’re expecting to win because they’re winners. Because they came out every single day in practice, and we have winning habits.” “The things we do and the things we say are all about us winning, and us being winners,” Haney added. “We do that, the sky’s the limit for this program.”

B5 | THE BASKETBALL ISSUE

MEN’S BASKETBALL

THEHOYA.COM | FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2026

Caleb Williams, Kayvaun Mulready Stayed When Everyone Left

Sam Fishman

Senior Sports Editor

Loyalty used to be the name of the game in college basketball, but the transfer portal has flipped the sport on its head. These days, thousands of players transfer teams each offseason, and the player who graduates from the same university that recruited them out of high school is increasingly rare. Georgetown University men’s basketball head coach Ed Cooley is no stranger to this phenomenon. He lost seven players, including three starters, to the portal ahead of the 2026-27 season and has brought in five transfers to replace them. Cooley has coached 41 players in his four seasons at Georgetown — an alarming amount of turnover for a coach hoping to bring consistency to a program that has lacked it for years. The Hoyas have failed to reach the NCAA tournament since a fluke Big East Tournament win under Patrick Ewing (CAS ’85) in 2021 made them a bid stealer. Before then, their last appearance on the national stage was in 2015. Cooley, who promised to bring Georgetown back to the tournament, has failed to deliver so far, and only mustered six conference wins last season. Through it all, however, junior forward Caleb Williams and junior guard Kayvaun Mulready have stuck with Cooley, who recruited the pair out of high school before the 2024-25 season. Now, they return to the Hilltop as upperclassmen, more confident in their team than at any other point in their college careers. The Hilltop’s Allure Mulready, who hails from Worcester, Mass., and planned to join Cooley at Providence College before Georgetown hired him, briefly entered the transfer portal in Spring 2025 but

withdrew just three days later and has since grown into a key piece of the program. Mulready said he chose to remain at Georgetown for reasons that supersede basketball. “I’m a very loyal person, so just the idea of leaving bothered me,” Mulready told The Hoya. “I’ve been through some stuff that’s way worse than just a year at Georgetown, or a year at any school.” “I wanted to be a part of the change of Georgetown,” Mulready added. For Williams, staying means something a little different. A Washington, D.C. area native, he grew up watching Georgetown compete on the national stage. Williams said the Hoyas’ success is personal. “One of the main reasons for me committing is to bring a school where I grew up watching back to that prominence that they were at before,” Williams told The Hoya. “I didn’t want to leave without achieving that goal.” Although players have come and gone, Cooley’s staff has remained relatively stable. Associate Head Coach Jeff Battle, as well as assistants Brian Blaney and LaDontae Henton, came to the Hilltop with Cooley from Providence in 2023, and assistant coach and Director of Basketball Operations Walt Corbean was also hired by Cooley upon his arrival at Georgetown. Williams said there is comfort in returning to a familiar place. “It’ll help us to bring in the new guys, already knowing the system,” Williams said. “It just felt like it wouldn’t be as difficult as maybe going to another school and trying to figure out a whole new system, a whole new coaching staff. You know what you’re getting here.”

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Great Expectations With eight new players on the team — two of which are first-years with no collegiate experience — Williams and Mulready have key leadership roles. Graduate center Vince Iwuchukwu, who is entering his second season with the Hoyas, is the team’s only older returning player, and of the three other players that have been with the Hoyas for three years, only Williams and Mulready have made significant contributions on the court. With a relatively fresh squad, Cooley said he expects the pair to steer their newer teammates. “In this portal era, this transfer era of body movement across teams, the teams that show great progress are the ones who can retain the most know-how,” Cooley said in an Oct. 15 press conference. “They know a drill, they know a play, they know a system. You can clearly see those two really stick out in our practices on systematic know-how, on culture, on style of coaching, style of play.” Last season, Williams started all 33 games and averaged 30 minutes a night, contributing 8.8 points and 5.1 rebounds per game. Mulready did not see the floor much in the first half of the year, but over the last 16 games, he blossomed, averaging 24 minutes a night and shooting 44% from three. Senior point guard Jaland Lowe, who arrived from the University of Kentucky this offseason, said Mulready and Williams have already stood out as leaders. “They’ve kind of seen the landscape of how it works here and being in the Big East and playing under Cooley,” Lowe told The Hoya. “Those guys have talked to us the most, and try to breathe life into us, and kind of explain for us how to get better each and every single day, and how everything kind of works smoothly around here.” Iwuchukwu, who is returning to Georgetown for his final season of college basketball, said Mulready has developed tremendously since they first met last season. “Kayvaun has grown exponentially as a player, as a leader, and most importantly as a man, as a friend to me, as a brother,” Iwuchukwu told The Hoya. “We always have deep talks about what we want the season to look like, our individual goals, our team success, and you can tell the level of maturity has grown in his game.” Williams said the duo, now roommates, are closer with their teammates this season than they were with previous ones. “Our chemistry — it’s new. It’s the vibe on the court, off the court,” Williams said. “It’s a new feeling that I feel like I haven’t experienced in the past two years of me being here.” Mulready said success on the basketball court is the unifying factor for the team. “There’s different guys coming from different places and schools, different situations, injuries or whatnot, not playing, and we all just have this shared goal of winning,” Mulready said. “So, I’m very comfortable and excited for this year.” Learning From History To win, however, the Hoyas will have to improve across the board. The team ended last season with a 16-18 (6-14 Big East) record, but showed glimmers of hope in nonconference

wins over the University of Maryland Terrapins and the Clemson University Tigers and upset the No. 3-seeded Villanova University Wildcats in the Big East Tournament. Williams said he and Mulready are uniquely familiar with the team’s existing weaknesses. “We know the things that we’re really good at as a program, as a team,” Williams said. “But we also know the things that we haven’t been the best at in the past years, so we’re using that knowledge to try to prevent those things that didn’t work out so well for us.” One thing they must prevent is losing close games and letting leads slip. Last season, the Hoyas finished 11 games within 2 possessions, and lost eight of them, including a near-upset against the No. 3 University of Connecticut Huskies. Georgetown also blew home leads to the Villanova University Wildcats and the Seton Hall University Pirates and let the St. John’s University Red Storm erase a 12-point deficit at Madison Square Garden. When games got close last season, Williams said, the Hoyas panicked instead of sticking to their guns. “Last year we started to kind of deteriorate from how we got those leads once it kind of got close,” Williams said. “Just trusting the game plan, trusting the staff, trusting what we were doing all game to get those leads and sticking to it even through that adversity is going to be key.” Cooley said Mulready and Williams will be crucial in the team generating more possessions and quality shots. “They’ve been in the system longer than anybody in the gym,” Cooley said in a July 29 press conference. “They have to have a good year, and they should have a good year — but they got to be willing to get uncomfortable to help us win.” The new group showed promise in its two preseason exhibitions, a 94-77 win over the Wake Forest University Demon Deacons and a 76-68 win over the George Washington University Revolutionaries. Mulready said the competition was refreshing. “It feels good to finally play against other people,” Mulready said. “We’ve been playing against each other for months now. Seeing how together we were, how much fun we were having, how coachable all the guys were being and how we all picked each other up after a mistake, that was comforting.” Sharing the sugar was also an issue last year. Georgetown averaged only 14.8 assists per game in the 2025-26 season, 101st in Division 1 and ninth out of 11 in the Big East. Against Wake Forest, however, the Hoyas had 23 assists, a number they only eclipsed twice last year. Williams said the exhibition was the best he has seen a Georgetown team play. “The way we played together, it was probably the most unselfish game I’ve been a part of as a Georgetown Hoya,” Williams said. “No knock to the past two teams, but I think we’re just that good at sharing the ball this year. It’s a team mindset. Everybody eats, everybody does well, because we know if we win as much as we want to win, from the top guy to guys who just come in and play their role, everybody’s gonna feed off that.”

B6 | THE BASKETBALL ISSUE

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

THEHOYA.COM | FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2026

Ahead of Senior Season, Khia Miller Reaches for 1,000 Points Jacob Nolan

Deputy Sports Editor

After transferring from East Carolina University (ECU) prior to last season, senior guard Khia Miller immediately made an impact on the Georgetown University women’s basketball team, putting up 17 points against Stonehill College in her Hilltop debut. Averaging a team-high 9 points per game while appearing in all 31 games, Miller also recorded 3.2 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game, both of which were top five on the team. Miller reflected on playing for a local university, the unique nature of her transfer class and the high expectations for the team and herself heading into her senior season. Miller — who grew up only 20 miles away from the Hilltop, in Woodbridge, Va. — said she has always been in a strong athletic environment, from her family members to friends. “My aunt and uncle were both involved in track at the college and professional level,” Miller told The Hoya. “But when it came to basketball, it was mainly hanging out with my best friend and being at the Boys & Girls Club, being in that environment, being around sports.” After returning to the area last year, Miller said she has taken a lot of pride in playing for a local university, especially because she has a much bigger fan section each game than she did at ECU. “It really means a lot to me, and I’ve definitely taken pride in having my senior night here,” Miller said. “Initially, when I went to college, I didn’t think that my whole family was going to be at my senior night, but my whole family has the opportunity to be at my senior night this year.” “I love the amount of people that come to games, like my high school coach gets to come and some of the girls that play in her program come as well,” Miller added. Miller said academics were the primary focus when considering all of her transfer options, and Georgetown’s esteemed programs set it apart. “I’m a very big person when it comes to academics,” Miller said. “That’s the reason why I came to college; that’s the reason why I’m playing basketball.” “Not only because I love the sport, but because it gives me the opportunity to pursue an education,” Miller added. “And what better school than Georgetown?” Miller said last season’s other transfers helped smooth her transition to the Hilltop. “About six of us came in, so we were all pretty close,” Miller said. “We all had that same experience of going through it together, so it wasn’t like I was doing it all alone.” Miller said there were too many memorable moments on campus to pick a favorite because the team is so supportive of each other. “It’s hard to pinpoint one,” Miller said. “We’ve gone to different sports games; we went to a soccer game, to a football game.” “We like supporting other teams,” Miller added. “But honestly, I just love going to Epi’s with the team; it’s honestly so fun to go out there and just talk.” Miller said spending time with her family also made the transfer easier. “Early on, I would spend a lot of time with my mom and my sister,” Miller said. “They would come up here, and we would go to brunch. Staying connected with my family also helped me take that transition well.”

Miller said the Hoyas’ coaching staff, especially Head Coach Darnell Haney, has challenged her to grow as a person through channeling her passion into every single facet of the game. “Coach Haney has really challenged me to grow as a person,” Miller said. “Every day, whether that’s in practice, during the games or off the court, he’s pushing me to be a leader, to be the best version of myself.” “There were things I had to work on growing as a player maturity-wise, getting over things, and being able to move on from play-to-play,” Miller added. “That’s just a passion that I have, and I’m learning how to harness my passion into something positive and not let it overflow.” Miller said being a new player on the team last year has contributed to her ability to connect with newer players. “Understanding what it was like to transfer here and to transfer into a new, higher-level conference has helped me to more easily connect with the new players,” Miller said. “I think conveying to them what the transition looks like and how they’re going to feel helps to get them ready to play once November 2 comes around.” As the NCAA expands its tournament field this year with an additional eight teams, securing a top-three spot in the conference could allow the Hoyas to sneak into the tournament. “Top three in the conference is something that we can get,” Miller said. “We’re sitting at seven or eight in the preseason rankings, and I think we can get to number three, which comes with more goals for the team.” “There are more bids in the NCAA tournament this year,” Miller added. “That gives

us more of an opportunity to get a bid, and I think we have a strong chance to do so.” In addition to the team’s goal of qualifying for the NCAA tournament, Miller set a personal goal for herself of reaching 1,000 points, as she currently sits at 703 points following a 279-point season on the Hilltop last year, and leaving a mark on the school. “Getting to 1,000 points here would be amazing,” Miller said. “It’s a personal mark that I could leave on Georgetown which gives me a bit of a connection back to the school.” Miller said the team takes each goal dayby-day, so that they are ready for the season, conference play and March playoffs. “Whether that’s learning one day, getting better offensively and defensively the next,” Miller said. “We don’t jump into conference play immediately, and that’s what you want to be ready for.” “I think that last year we were thinking in the long run and kind of overlooking the short term,” Miller added. “So this year, we’re looking at the short term and then attacking the long run as it comes.”

Miller said she is confident her team can knock off some big-name teams in the Big East this year, namely Villanova University and the University of Connecticut (UConn), both of which made March Madness last season. “We can beat Villanova for sure,” Miller said. “I always want to play UConn, because I want to take the big dog off the chopping block.” Offering advice to younger players who are contemplating transferring, Miller said that each player needs to consider what is best for them, and whether or not they actually like the school outside of the basketball team. “I would say do what is best for you academically, and also financially. Do you want to be at the school even if you weren’t playing basketball?” Miller said. “Would you want to be at this school if one day you got hurt and one day you couldn’t play anymore? Find what works for you.” “I was able to come to Georgetown, get a great academic opportunity that sets me up for professional steps after I graduate; that was my plan,” Miller added.

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B7 | THE BASKETBALL ISSUE

MEN’S BASKETBALL

THEHOYA.COM | FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2026

After His Own Comeback, Jaland Lowe Eyes GU’s Return Maddie Taylor Contributing Editor

For Georgetown University men’s basketball senior guard Jaland Lowe, stepping back onto the court against Wake Forest University on Oct. 4 was a long-anticipated return to the sport he loves. After undergoing season-ending shoulder surgery in January, Lowe spent much of the past nine months working toward that return. His debut in a Georgetown uniform marked what Lowe said was his first healthy game since the 2024-25 season, when he played at the University of Pittsburgh. Lowe said he was excited to finally play without the limitations of his injury. “It felt great,” Lowe told The Hoya. “This was my first game healthy since my sophomore year, so it really just felt great to be back out there and feeling good and confident for the first time in a while.” Lowe made an immediate impact on the floor, recording 7 points and 10 assists in Georgetown’s 94-77 exhibition win over Wake Forest. Less than two weeks later, he led the Hoyas with 19 points in a 76-68 exhibition win over the George Washington University Revolutionaries on Oct. 16. These performances offer an early glimpse into what the former four-star recruit could bring to a Georgetown program looking to reverse its recent struggles. Lowe said his path to the Hilltop was not what he originally envisioned. “My journey to this point right now has just been like a rocky road,” Lowe said. “I’ve just gone through a lot of ups and downs, and I think that’s the best part that this sport has brought, because it just teaches you a lot about yourself and it brings you to places that you never thought you’d be at.” From the Sidelines to the Hilltop Before becoming Georgetown’s first transfer commitment in April, Lowe established himself as a productive point guard in two seasons at Pitt. As a sophomore, he averaged 16.8 points, 4.2 rebounds and 5.5 assists per game before transferring to the University of Kentucky. A lingering shoulder injury, however, cut his time with the Wildcats short. The Mis-

souri City, Texas, native appeared in just nine games, averaging 8 points, 2.1 rebounds and 2.4 assists before undergoing surgery. The recovery process was lengthy. Lowe said he could barely move his shoulder for the first three months after the procedure before gradually regaining his range of motion. He traveled to Los Angeles approximately seven times in seven months for appointments with his surgeon. Lowe said the mental toll of watching from the sidelines compounded rehabilitation’s physical challenges. “For me, it was really missing the competition,” Lowe said. “I was at my dream school, but then I couldn’t play. So it was like, ‘Man, I’m missing that a lot.’ I felt like I let my teammates down.” Without basketball, Lowe said he began reflecting on his identity outside of the sport. “I figured out a lot about myself during that time, just how I am as a person, what am I without basketball,” Lowe said. “I just learned a lot about myself during those bored and hard times. I feel like that’s when you really grow. And right now, I’m grateful every day I step on the court.” The experience changed Lowe’s relationship with the sport. He once entered the gym laser-focused on reaching specific goals. Now, he said he appreciates the day-to-day. “I think I put less pressure on myself now, for sure,” Lowe said. “I think the best thing I’ve learned is to be present and enjoy, like just enjoy the full process of everything and just take it all in.” Even before Lowe could return to the court, Head Coach Ed Cooley saw an opportunity to bring in an experienced point guard. Cooley said Lowe’s performances at Pitt had already demonstrated his potential. “Jaland has an incredible ‘it,’ incredible personality,” Cooley said at a Georgetown basketball media day press conference. “He’s a natural point guard. He’s one of the more gifted passers we’ve coached in a long time. He could also score and lead.” In the transfer portal, Lowe prioritized finding a coach who would invest in him as both a basketball player and a person. Lowe said Cooley was the first coach to contact

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him, visiting him in Houston and calling either him or his parents every day. “To go through a full season or like almost a full year where you’re hurt, and then still have somebody show that much love to you, to show how much they want you and how much they will support you during those tough times,” Lowe said. “I felt like I couldn’t pass up that opportunity.” “It’s kind of human nature to feel wanted a little bit by somebody,” Lowe added. “You want to feel cared for.” After receiving full clearance to play in September, Lowe said he has not yet returned to the level he believes he can reach. Still, his expectations for himself remain high. When asked at Big East Media Day whether he could return to his sophomore year form at Pitt, Lowe said he has even higher expectations for himself. “I think I can get better than that,” Lowe said.

Steering the Ship Lowe’s early performances have already impressed his new teammates. Senior center Vince Iwuchukwu said Lowe is one of the best point guards he has played with. “Jaland is a true point guard,” Iwuchukwu told The Hoya. “Passes the ball at an elite level, at an NBA pro level. Elite pace, change of pace is elite. One of the better point guards I’ve probably played with in my career, and I’ve played with a lot of good point guards.” Beyond his playmaking ability, Lowe has quickly established himself as a locker room leader, according to his teammates. Senior guard Elmarko Jackson said Lowe creates opportunities both for himself and the entire team. “I think of him as the captain of a ship, for real, for real,” Jackson told The Hoya. “He sets everything up. He sets the table, and he feeds everybody and he’s also able to feed himself.” “It’s really so easy and fun to play with him because he’s a vocal leader, but he also leads by example,” Jackson added. Lowe has consciously worked to embrace that leadership role — even though he does not consider himself particularly outgoing. Junior guard Kayvaun Mulready said Lowe’s quiet and humble persona disappears when he steps on the court. “Sometimes you might not know how to approach him because he’s calm and quiet,” Mulready told The Hoya. “But at the same time, once he’s on the floor, though, it’s a different dog. He’s very aggressive. He’ll yell at you, but always in a good way.” That competitiveness carries over to lategame situations. Georgetown struggled to close out tight contests last season, with 11 of 18 losses decided by 7 points or fewer. Lowe, however, said he welcomes the pressure of making plays when the game is on the line. “I’ve loved being in that position, and I’ve grown up to always want to be in that position,” Lowe said. “I feel like my style helps a lot — just being able to make a play, just make any type of play that my team needs, whether it’s making a pass or even getting a shot up. That’s something that I’ve been able to do.”

Lowe said that although he never expected his college career to take him to three different programs, those experiences have helped shape his approach to leadership. He pointed to two former teammates — Pitt forward Blake Hinson and Kentucky guard Otega Oweh — as players whose work ethic and daily discipline left a lasting impression. Now, as Georgetown’s primary ball handler, Lowe has sought to bring those qualities into his own leadership style, saying he feels responsible for gaining the team’s trust. “I know it’s my job as a point guard, as the one who has the ball in their hands a lot, to make sure I gain and earn that trust from my teammates,” Lowe said. “So I make sure that I show them by example.” At Georgetown, he said the team’s camaraderie has made that responsibility easier, in large part because the group regularly spends time together outside of basketball. That early chemistry was evident against Wake Forest, when Lowe’s 10 assists helped Georgetown’s offense find its rhythm. Lowe credited his teammates’ shooting ability for creating opportunities to facilitate, but he said he intends to embrace this role throughout the season. “I want to be one of the top assist guys in the country,” Lowe said. “I want to be one of those guys that leads the country in assists.” A Point to Prove Lowe’s ambitions extend far beyond individual statistics. Despite Georgetown’s 10th-place selection in the Big East preseason poll, he has high expectations for the Hoyas. When initially informed of the ranking at the Big East Media Day, Lowe said he was surprised. “Oh, wow, that’s bad,” Lowe said. Still, Lowe said he is confident in a roster that he believes has the talent to compete with the best of the Big East. “All these guys have been overlooked,” Lowe said. “It’s just a bunch of guys who’ve got something to prove, a bunch of gritty guys who’ve got all the talent in the world.” Lowe said the team has already discussed its aspirations to restore Georgetown basketball to national relevance and bring excitement back to the Washington, D.C.-Maryland-Virginia (DMV) area. “We had a little meeting together, and we talked to each other about just bringing the life back into Georgetown, bringing the life in basketball back into D.C., into the DMV, and that’s just going to be a lot of winning,” Lowe said. “We have high standards for ourselves.” Those standards include a deep NCAA tournament run, which would mark a significant turnaround for a program that has not appeared in the tournament since 2021, earned an at-large bid since 2015 or advanced past the round of 32 since 2007. Lowe said he believes the roster Cooley has assembled is capable of exceeding outside expectations. “We feel like we have a group that can win the Big East tournament,” Lowe said. “But then we also feel like we can make a really good shot at making, like, a really good Elite Eight run, a really deep run in the tournament.” For Lowe, however, the opportunity to achieve that success alongside his teammates is as important as the accomplishments themselves. “I dream every night, or just think about, you know, making the Final Four,” Lowe said. “But I think for me, it’s more like, ‘Yo, I want all these guys to experience it as well.’”

B8 | THE BASKETBALL ISSUE

Men’s Basketball Schedule

THEHOYA.COM | FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2026

Women’s Basketball Schedule